Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs ended runaway Premiership winners with a PSL-era record tally of 69 points from their 30 games and were the dominant force in the local game in the 2014/2015 season.
Stuart Baxter’s men claimed the title with three games to spare and ended the season 12 points ahead of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns who never really posed a realistic threat to the AmaKhosi’s title march. Chiefs also recorded a record number of wins with 21 and went unbeaten for 19 games during the season.
Interestingly, Chiefs did not boast the top goal scorers in the league. Instead, George Lebese who scored the most goals for the Naturena side with a tally of seven for the league did not even make it into the top 10 scorers list at the end of the season.
Instead Free State Stars striker Moeketsi Sekola won the golden boot award for the Premiership with his 14 goals for his side which finished ninth on the league table.
Baxter built up his title-winning outfit from the back, with the best defence in the league by some margin. Chiefs conceded 14 goals in the league, and were led by captain and heart of the defence Tefu Mashamaite. The central defender moved from Wits to hallowed grounds of Naturena in 2011, and in his side’s title-winning season has drawn comparisons between himself and Chelsea great John Terry.
At the other end of the scale, one player that has seemingly fallen out of favour is goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. The former Bafana number-one shotstopper did not even make the matchday squad for Chief’s final match of the season, and his contract at the club expires at the end of June. Various reports speculate what his next move might be, but nothing official has been confirmed yet.
Maritzburg United midfielder Kurt Lentjies also has his contract expiring at his club at the end of May. Lentjies, however, said he aims to stay at the club who finished in the top eight for the first time in their history.
Mpumalanga Black Aces, meanwhile, are expected a to announce a new coach for next season after Clive Barker was demoted to the club’s development structures during their campaign where they finished 10th place on the table. – ANA